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Pandemonium broke out at Maxfight 62 in St. Vlas when Bulgarian fighter Georgi Valentinov bit off a section of his opponent’s ear during a live MMA bout—then spat it out mid-fight. The gruesome act, reminiscent of Mike Tyson’s infamous clash with Evander Holyfield, unfolded on live national television, triggering an immediate wave of outrage throughout Bulgarian media and the global MMA community.

What began as a standard night of competition quickly descended into infamy. Despite the victim’s frantic screams of “He’s biting me! He’s biting me!” the referee failed to step in—exposing a stunning lapse in officiating overseen by the Bulgarian MMA Federation (BULMMAF), the sport’s regulatory body in the country.

Initially, officials controversially declared the match a “No Contest.” It wasn’t until social media exploded with condemnation and mainstream media picked up the story that the Federation reversed course—hours later—disqualifying Valentinov in what many called a delayed and insufficient response.

MaxFight’s president, one of the last promoters still sustaining MMA in Bulgaria, described the incident as “a black eye on Bulgarian MMA.” But the blame extends far beyond one fighter.

BULMMAF President Stanislav Nedkov, a divisive figure accused of stifling MMA’s growth in the country, is now under intense scrutiny. Under his leadership, over 80% of Bulgarian MMA clubs have closed, professional events have all but vanished, and Sofia—a former hub of the sport—now has just two gyms left offering classes. Critics point to a toxic mix of mismanagement, political protection, and a complete lack of transparency.

Insiders claim both Nedkov and Valentinov enjoy backing from a powerful political figure, which has enabled repeated misconduct to go unpunished. Notably, Valentinov was previously banned by BKFC after using his post-fight speech at their first European event to make politically charged remarks.

But this latest act goes far beyond controversy—it’s catastrophic. More than just a grotesque assault, it highlights how unchecked authority and institutional failure are corroding the foundation of the sport in Bulgaria.

A day after the biting incident, Nedkov doubled down—defending the referee and bizarrely suggesting that “MMA bouts in a ring” might need to be banned, despite the cage having no relevance to the incident. Fighters, coaches, and promoters now fear this is yet another excuse to shutter the few remaining avenues for competitive MMA in the country.

MMA in Bulgaria now stands at a breaking point. Dedicated athletes and promoters are still fighting for its survival—but they are being strangled by a federation seen as unfit, unaccountable, and out of touch with the very athletes it claims to support.

This is no longer just about one fighter’s barbaric outburst—it’s about the collapse of an entire sport under the watch of those charged with protecting it.